THE escalating confrontation between the United States, Israel and Iran has shifted from a series of tactical skirmishes into a grinding war of attrition that defies traditional military logic.

As of March 2026, the conflict is increasingly defined not by the sophistication of Western technology, but by the brutal efficiency of Iranian asymmetry and a conspicuous lack of a clear exit strategy from Washington and Tel Aviv.

The most glaring vulnerability in the coalition campaign is the absence of a defined political or military endgame. US President Donald Trump has shifted between contradictory objectives — from threatening the destruction of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, to advocating a “Venezuela‑style” regime change, to demanding Iran’s unconditional surrender. These conflicting messages highlight a lack of clarity on what constitutes “victory,” and even Israeli leadership has struggled to articulate goals beyond degrading Iranian proxies. Without a clear post‑war vision, tactical gains risk becoming a prelude to a “forever war.” As Western leaders offer divergent objectives and flip between maximalist and ambiguous aims, the campaign lacks coherence and strategic purpose. With shifting goals, the US and Israel have entered a conflict where the “goalposts” change with every announcement, leaving commanders to fight impulsively rather than toward a defined political settlement.

Western military doctrine often prioritizes “decapitation”, the killing of top military leaders and the destruction of command centres. However,........

© Pakistan Observer